The event, supported by Sport Burnaby (the sport arm of Tourism Burnaby) and co-ordinated by the BC/YT Section, drew 40 teams from the two Sections with the top three finishers in Novice, Intermediate and Open divisions advancing to the Canadian Synchronized Championships February 24-26 in Calgary. As there were only two entries in Novice and Intermediate, both entries advance. The Open division had four entries to decide the three national event spots.

“The general skating quality in the two Sections has improved a lot,” said Hughes, who has spent the past 30 years plying his trade in the sport. He says he puts down that improvement to the two Section’s overall level of coaching. “I think we are slowly improving and the interest in the sport is really growing out here,” he said pointing out two years ago the Mountain event drew 32 clubs, this year 40.

Black Gold from Calgary captured the Open title coming from second after the first round skate to defeat Edmonton Edge 71.09 to 70.30. The Lower Mainland’s Ice X-calibre earned the third spot with 60.54points. Greater Vancouver’s Sakura wound up fourth (53.50).

In the two team lntermediate division Calgary’s Solstice defeated Lethbridge Ice Angels 55.10 to 49.61 and in the Novice competition Calgary’s Black Gold defeated Aldergrove’s Ice Angels 44.53 to 43.43.